{"id":1552129,"date":"2022-07-13T07:51:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T11:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1552129"},"modified":"2022-07-13T09:49:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T13:49:15","slug":"never-before-seen-video-of-navys-disastrous-red-hill-fuel-leak-in-hawaii-raises-accountability-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/never-before-seen-video-of-navys-disastrous-red-hill-fuel-leak-in-hawaii-raises-accountability-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Never-Before-Seen Video of Navy\u2019s Disastrous Red Hill Fuel Leak in Hawaii Raises Accountability Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnever-before-seen-video-of-navys-disastrous-red-hill-fuel-leak-in-hawaii-raises-accountability-questions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1552129&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Christina Jedra of the Hawaiian news outlet Civil Beat released exclusive photos and video of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.staradvertiser.com\/2022\/07\/08\/breaking-news\/navy-says-footage-of-red-hill-fuel-spill-unlikely-to-result-in-disciplinary-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">November 20<\/a> fuel leak at the Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fuel leak, we now know, lasted an incredible <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/navy-red-hill-fuel-spill-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">34 hours<\/a> and devastated the military families stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The fuel leak is the second-worst case of water contamination in military history and forced <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fuel-tank-leak-navy-pearl-harbor-hawaii-8cdd7798a19520a3f22e37b06bc586ea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4,000 military families<\/a> to be relocated into hotels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Besides the inconvenience and expense to the Navy to relocate all those families into hotels, the most alarming impact is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/series-errors-led-fuel-poisoning-pearl-harbor-water-navy-report-finds-rcna36278#:~:text=Some%206%2C000%20people%20suffered%20nausea,close%20the%20Red%20Hill%20facility.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">over 6,000 individuals<\/a> suffering illness from drinking water contaminated with jet fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The recently released video and photos raise more questions on the Navy\u2019s response or lack thereof, accountability measures, and more far-reaching effects on defense in the Pacific region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Watch:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CivilBeat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CivilBeat<\/a> obtained exclusive photos and videos of the November fuel leak at Red Hill that contaminated the drinking water of military families, sickening hundreds. <\/p>\n<p>Watching fuel flooding a tunnel that is 380 ft from the drinking water source took my breath away\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/upbQNZ5I18\">pic.twitter.com\/upbQNZ5I18<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Christina Jedra (@ChristinaJedra) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChristinaJedra\/status\/1544364128323547136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 5, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Disturbing Timeline Of Events<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On November 29, the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam installation commander Navy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.civilbeat.org\/2021\/11\/navy-investigating-chemical-smell-in-military-housing-drinking-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Captain Erik Spitzer<\/a> assured everyone that the water was safe to drink, stating:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI can tell you at this point that there are no immediate indications that the water is not safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"subscribe\" class=\"email-signup inarticle\">\n<h4>Support Conservative Voices!<\/h4>\n<h5><strong>Sign up to receive the latest<\/strong> political news, insight, and commentary delivered directly to your inbox.<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The next day Captain Spitzer reiterated the claim that the water was safe even though the <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/news\/newsroom\/hawaii-department-of-health-advises-navy-water-system-consumers-not-to-drink-consume-tap-water\/#:~:text=The%20DOH%20recommends%20all%20Navy,brushing%20teeth%2C%20etc.).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hawaiian Department of Health<\/a> warned that <\/span>\u201cAll Navy water system users avoid using the water for drinking, cooking, or oral hygiene.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In response to the Department of Health announcement, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/DesktopModules\/ArticleCS\/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&#038;ModuleId=685&#038;Article=2860451\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Navy sent out a press release<\/a> on December 2 that petroleum levels in the water were \u201croughly four to ten times below the Hawaii Department of Health Environmental Action Levels.\u201d This announcement was made to reassure the military community that the water was safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Every day, the Navy\u2019s Red Hill fuel tanks continue to threaten Oahu\u2019s main water source.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, a major leak from the Red Hill Fuel Facility poisoned thousands of people on Navy water lines.<\/p>\n<p>Another major leak could make our water permanently undrinkable. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9wIRhc4Uoj\">pic.twitter.com\/9wIRhc4Uoj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 O\u02bbahu Water Protectors (@oahuWP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/oahuWP\/status\/1537210460558094336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/video\/regret-did-not-tell-families-100409253.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on December 6, Captain Spitzer<\/a> sent a notice to the military housing residents that the Navy had \u201cmistakenly felt the initial tests meant we may drink the water.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So 17 days passed from the time of the leak to the final announcement from the Navy that the water wasn\u2019t safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unforeseen Consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Military members and their families started to experience various illnesses, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">burning and itching skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">dizziness<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">extreme abdominal pain<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These illnesses were also experienced by many of the children of the military families stationed at the Joint Base. Many military families rely on the on-base child development centers, known as daycare centers, to watch after their children while working.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">400,000 residents have been impacted by Navy contamination of O\u02bbahu\u2019s drinking water\u2014half a million people. DOD committed to defueling Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, but the US military has yet to remove the fuel. And there are reports fuel may continue to be leaking. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FCMnhADtYz\">https:\/\/t.co\/FCMnhADtYz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Uahikea Maile (@uahikea) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/uahikea\/status\/1534266615004397568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 7, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ford Island Child Development Center, which is the largest daycare center on the Hawaiian installation, had sent conflicting messages to families throughout the crisis. A <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/navy-water-contamination-crisis-hawaii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release to the base population<\/a> on measures to protect the children from contaminated water wasn\u2019t sent out until December 21.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Assistant scientist of environmental health and engineering at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/navy-water-contamination-crisis-hawaii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nataile Exum<\/a> said of the contamination:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI mean to be honest, will these parents ever know how this has impacted their kids and their immunological or developmental growth? I mean, I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/air-force-members-file-suit-after-being-rejected-religious-exemption-from-covid-vaccine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Air Force Members File Suit After Being Rejected Religious Exemption From COVID Vaccine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lack Of Accountability<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fuel leak in November is believed to have happened due to an earlier spill in May. During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/01\/13\/red-hill-fuel-water-contamination-activism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">May incident<\/a>, 20,000 gallons of jet fuel got caught in the fire suppression system in the storage facility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Naval investigation uncovered that the issue was probably predestined due to an error in construction work in 2015. Steel pipe was meant to be put into the suppression system, but instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.military.com\/daily-news\/2022\/07\/08\/commander-retires-award-after-red-hill-disaster-and-mistakenly-telling-residents-drink-tainted-water.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PVC pipe was utilized<\/a>, which is not as sturdy and would break down over time when in contact with fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2022\/07\/01\/pearl-harbor-fuel-spill-drinking-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Navy report<\/a> stated the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThe lack of critical thinking, intellectual rigor and self-assessment by key leaders at decisive moments exemplified a culture of complacency and demonstrated a lack of professionalism that is demanded by the high consequence nature of fuel operations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While a fair amount of individuals within the chain of command hold responsibility over operations on an installation, to use an old leadership term, the buck stops at the top. The report specifically spoke of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.military.com\/daily-news\/2022\/07\/08\/commander-retires-award-after-red-hill-disaster-and-mistakenly-telling-residents-drink-tainted-water.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Captain Spitzer\u2019s actions,<\/a> stating:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cHe did not exercise his unique authority and that inaction contributed to contamination of the drinking water because the response was neither comprehensive nor effective.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So what became of Captain Spitzer? He retired in June, receiving the second-highest non-combat service award you can receive; the Legion of Merit. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/navy-pearl-harbor-toxic-water-commander\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The citation<\/a> lauded his \u201cresponse to the Red Hill water contamination incident, which resulted in the expeditious restoration of clean water throughout the community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What in the hell would possess the people overseeing the people who lead this installation to give Erik Spitzer a LOM after his disastrous and unethical leadership of JBPHH during the US Navy\u2019s contamination of the drinking water?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kunu is Hawaiian for Chuck (@sgtregionrat) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sgtregionrat\/status\/1545069836073463808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 7, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/the-truth-behind-military-brass-incompetence-and-the-system-that-perpetuates-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Truth Behind Military Brass Incompetence And The System That Perpetuates It<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">National Security Consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The reality is warnings have been raised about the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility for a long time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2022\/01\/13\/red-hill-fuel-water-contamination-activism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Sierra Club estimates<\/a> that over 180,000 gallons of fuel have spilled out into the environment and water supply over the entire lifespan of the tanks initially constructed during World War II.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If that wasn\u2019t enough, the Navy has documentation highlighting the facility\u2019s significant risk to the environment and surrounding community. For example, a <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/national-security\/3524199-navys-red-hill-debacle-is-both-a-warning-and-an-opportunity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Naval report<\/a> indicated that every year there is a 28% chance of a substantial spill which equates to between 10,000 and 30,000 gallons of jet fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We must treat the Red Hill fuel storage leak with the urgency it deserves &#038; work to protect our precious aquifers.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KG2oPpOZeK\">https:\/\/t.co\/KG2oPpOZeK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Tulsi Gabbard \ud83c\udf3a (@TulsiGabbard) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TulsiGabbard\/status\/814954273268174848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 30, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pentagon has finally agreed to shut down the facility, which poses even more questions and concerns. In addition, the delay in dealing with this fuel infrastructure weakness poses a significant security concern.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is the heartbeat of U.S. military operations in the Pacific region. Fuel is the blood that must be pumped into the military machine to operate with maximum lethality and efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With it estimated to take over a year to empty the Red Hill tanks and no solid plan to reposition fuel assets in the region, there is a legitimate concern regarding our defensive posture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How Many More Warnings Will It Take?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last month <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/07\/08\/cameron-holt-warns-china-is-acquiring-new-weapons-five-times-faster-than-us\/#!\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisitions Major General Cameron Holt<\/a> warned that our procurement systems are far behind China and pose a significant threat to our security.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cIn purchasing power parity, they spend about one dollar to our 20 dollars to get to the same capability. We are going to lose if we can\u2019t figure out how to drop the cost and increase the speed in our defense supply chains.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With World War II-era infrastructures like the one on Oahu and spread throughout our international installations, we could quickly find ourselves not just technologically behind China when it comes to our weapons systems but not even able to put up a fight while we desperately try to plug holes in our aging infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Pentagon spokesman Major General Cameron Holt warned that China is acquiring new weapons five to six times faster than the United States, Fox News reports.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Spriteer (@spriteer_774400) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spriteer_774400\/status\/1545696375500857344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepoliticalinsider.com\/china-v-u-s-war-game-highlights-disastrous-weaknesses-in-our-military-might\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">China v. U.S. War Game Highlights Disastrous Weaknesses In Our Military Might<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As General Holt said:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThey have a larger Navy than we do, and they are making great strides in their military capabilities to keep us out of the Pacific region.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We might take ourselves out of the Pacific region without China\u2019s help at this rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.<\/strong><br \/>The Political Insider ranks #3 on <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.feedspot.com\/political_blogs\/\">Feedspot\u2019s<\/a> \u201c100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christina Jedra of the Hawaiian news outlet Civil Beat released exclusive photos and video of the November 20 fuel leak at the Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1552301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1552129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1552129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1552301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1552129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1552129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1552129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}